I would say I was gutted by our abrupt, boring and spiritless World Cup "adventure" but the reality is that I am relieved. I don't think the Germans played brilliantly, if they had, we'd have lost by a far greater margin. I am thankful we aren't facing Argentina, we'd have lost by at least 10 goals. Don't get me wrong, I think the Germans played beautifully, they were fast and surgical in their annihilation of our National team but they had some fear in the early stages of the match, they treated us with a respect that we didn't deserve.
To sum up the dismal England performance, Richard Littlejohn said it best, "Thank Heaven The Few didn't defend as badly as England's footballers in Bloemfontein at the weekend, otherwise we'd all be speaking German."
I don't blame the manager, I think John Terry's remarks tell their own tale, ironic that it was his defending that failed the team and ultimately the pride of the Country, possibly his mutinous stirrings didn't help. Maybe I am being a little hard on him, after all it is only a game but we don't mind defeat so long as we see some heart and soul. The US fought to the end, Chile and Mexico showed latin spirit and refused to bow down, even when beaten. It's not the losing, it's the fact that we all expected a great game, we're English, we don't expect to win but we do expect every man to do his duty, particularly against the Germans.
Luckily for me, I went to Waddesdon Manor to watch the football. It meant that rather than sit there and feel sick to my stomach, I could go and take some nice photographs. I have spoken about Waddesdon Manor before, it is always worth visiting, the Manor is impressive and despite it's relatively short history, it has had its share of famous visitors. The gardens are sculpted works of art and you are actually allowed to walk on the grass. It doesn't get too crowded so on a sunny day, take a picnic.
I am back to running with a vengeance. This morning we did a speed trial over a mile and put in our fastest time to date. I was flagging so seriously that I nearly told my little whippet daughter to go ahead without me. Where I found the reserves of strength, I'll never know but I am paying the price now.
Tomorrow I am hoping to put in 7 miles but we'll see, I am not great in the mornings at the moment and the heat may deter me, so determined is my resolve!
Anyway, to finish on a more positive note....Go Ghana!! At least the last remaining African team can show me that my faith in them is not lost and even if they do lose, they can go out with their heads held high, they came, they saw and they believed they could do it...who am I to argue?
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
As I said in an earlier post, I am not a fan of football but every 4 years I become the ultimate football pundit, an expert on the offside rule, critical of the mediocre talent that isn't as good as the talent "back in the day" and an absolute legend...in my own mind. The World cup is around again and my family have opted live in a different room to me already. I ignore the Champions League, view the FA cup disdainfully and see no point in supporting a football team for 3 years and 11 months. Why should I bother when the main event gives me the ultimate team to support and the cup means something more than a club level piece of tin, this is the "Cup", the one we've been waiting for, the BIG one.
This year started differently. The WC started on Friday and I wasn't "feeling it". "It" being the knot of excitement. Fortunately I felt it on Saturday once England came on to the pitch, the feeling that this is it, the excitement and pride that means the WC is really here.
I won't criticise the England team, they did what they always do, they took us on a rollercoaster of ups and downs. What did we expect? Really? This is the World cup final, there is no easy ride and besides, this is the England team and we all know that they never raise their game above the level of their opposition. They insist of fighting for every point and we always complain. I won't fault them, I thought they played well and I am looking forward to every match they play with a positive attitude and a blind belief that they can't fail.
I watched Sven Vs Portugal and he used the same tactics he made us use and smothered Portugal into a boring mess. I watched North Korea give Brazil a very rude awakening. I thought their containing tactics were brilliant, once any of the Brazilian team got into the North Korean half, they were smothered with the little red shirted Koreans. They couldn't turn, pass, move or shoot with any effect. I wonder which teams will note that tactic and use it? England, I hope!
Germany were brilliant, proper football and such a convincing display of domination, skill and the brutal destruction of the Australian dreams for this World cup. I was pleased to see the referee book 2 of the German team for diving, we don't need them taking a leaf out of Herr Klinsman's book and cheating to win, they don't need to do that, they are a great team, I just hope they are peaking too early!
I actually fancy our chances against Germany, I think it would be a great match and worthy of the final.
The World cup does tend to bring out all the old prejudices, particularly against the French team, after all, it should've been Ireland. The Irish are great ambassadors, they invade your Country and your heart, drink all your alcohol and for a month they are your best friends but the French have stolen that pleasure from the Africans with the cruel and cheating hand of fate.....I did laugh when I saw that the Irish were smashing up Henry Hoovers after the qualifying match! On the plus side, it does mean that not only will I be bring up Cressy, Agincourt, Trafalgar, Waterloo and both World Wars to my French friends, but I can bring up the cheating hand of Henry as well.
Time for bed, I have 3 matches to watch tomorrow and I am absolutely fooballed out today. It's been boring, exciting and thrilling and tomorrow promises so much more of the same. Ciao for now.
This year started differently. The WC started on Friday and I wasn't "feeling it". "It" being the knot of excitement. Fortunately I felt it on Saturday once England came on to the pitch, the feeling that this is it, the excitement and pride that means the WC is really here.
I won't criticise the England team, they did what they always do, they took us on a rollercoaster of ups and downs. What did we expect? Really? This is the World cup final, there is no easy ride and besides, this is the England team and we all know that they never raise their game above the level of their opposition. They insist of fighting for every point and we always complain. I won't fault them, I thought they played well and I am looking forward to every match they play with a positive attitude and a blind belief that they can't fail.
I watched Sven Vs Portugal and he used the same tactics he made us use and smothered Portugal into a boring mess. I watched North Korea give Brazil a very rude awakening. I thought their containing tactics were brilliant, once any of the Brazilian team got into the North Korean half, they were smothered with the little red shirted Koreans. They couldn't turn, pass, move or shoot with any effect. I wonder which teams will note that tactic and use it? England, I hope!
Germany were brilliant, proper football and such a convincing display of domination, skill and the brutal destruction of the Australian dreams for this World cup. I was pleased to see the referee book 2 of the German team for diving, we don't need them taking a leaf out of Herr Klinsman's book and cheating to win, they don't need to do that, they are a great team, I just hope they are peaking too early!
I actually fancy our chances against Germany, I think it would be a great match and worthy of the final.
The World cup does tend to bring out all the old prejudices, particularly against the French team, after all, it should've been Ireland. The Irish are great ambassadors, they invade your Country and your heart, drink all your alcohol and for a month they are your best friends but the French have stolen that pleasure from the Africans with the cruel and cheating hand of fate.....I did laugh when I saw that the Irish were smashing up Henry Hoovers after the qualifying match! On the plus side, it does mean that not only will I be bring up Cressy, Agincourt, Trafalgar, Waterloo and both World Wars to my French friends, but I can bring up the cheating hand of Henry as well.
Time for bed, I have 3 matches to watch tomorrow and I am absolutely fooballed out today. It's been boring, exciting and thrilling and tomorrow promises so much more of the same. Ciao for now.
Monday, 7 June 2010
Race for Life 2010
We had a running day yesterday, well my daughter did. Yesterday was her annual Race for Life event. For those that don't know what that is, it is a women only Cancer Research run over 5km (3.1 miles)and included around 3,500 women per race and they take place all over the UK. They raise some serious money towards Cancer Research and particularly women's cancer, an area that is neglected by the NHS as men get preferential treatment.
She did it for the first time 3 years ago and came in the 60's somewhere, in around 30 mins. As this is a charity event, it's not really a race but you do get some hardcore female runners who finish in around 20 mins. Last year my daughter came 27th in 27 minutes.
I should explain that the reason she started doing it was as an incentive just after we started running, to continue training with an end goal every year. That first year (and subsequent years) she has fallen in love with the day, the charity and the course. The course, the last 2 years, has been through Waddesdon Estate, plenty of shade and a beautiful run, as I found out as we have run it a few times.
Unfortunately the course wasn't a available this year as the roads were in poor condition and they were repairing them, so she was entered in the Milton Keynes run, yesterday morning.
She seemed particularly nervous as we hadn't run too much last week, 3 days out of 7 but she seemed intent on pushing her boundaries. We got there and there are over 3,000 women standing in a field commemorating loved ones that have died, are fighting or have beaten cancer. It is a celebration, a rememberance and a steely determined effort not to bow down to something that they can change, something that only women can do. If this were a mens event, it would be competitive and not quite so supportive. Last year a couple of ladies pushed my daughter up a hill she was struggling with, in a mens race we would trample them underfoot, checking them off as one down, so many to go.
There was a poignant moment when they had a minute of silence and released 12 white doves. They wheeled above the crowd of silent, pink dressed women and disappeared into the grey, leaden sky. You really couldn't help but reflect on those that you know that have fought and others that have died of Cancer. You could't help but glance at the sea of faces, young and old, all with a tale to tell.
The 10k runners went off first so I led my daughter to the start line. She was pretty far back as it was jammed with women, all waiting to start.
The start went down a straight for maybe 100 yards, then turned a sharp left and I positioned myself round the bend. I intended to snap the first ladies round the bend and then take a longer exposure shot of the ladies running past, a moving wave of pink and in between that, cheer my daughter. The horn went and off they set. I waited expectantly for the first runner, she came round the bend and it was my daughter. With the determination that only a 12 year old can muster, she pushed her way to the front and took off from the start like a rocket. By the time she got to me, the rest of the field was a second or so behind. I was cheering and laughing, the proud parent. I thought she would finish at around the 26/27 minute mark. The course had a hill and some turns at the finish so it was impossible see the runners until they were nearly on you. First place went to a young woman in around 21-22 mins. Second place was maybe a minute after that and third place must have been 23-24 mins, I know this because my daughter came storming home in 4th at 24 mins and 21 seconds, a personal best for her.
I was and am so proud. I am now considering the men's charity runs as they have a "Run for Moore", the Bobby Moore Cancer Charity run. They have a 13 miler in Windsor Great Park so I am about to up my running miles before I enter. I was also very interested in parkrun.com, a series of free runs across the Country. There isn't one near me but I guess that's because people avoid this area, no-one comes here for fun but there is the option of starting one.
Anyway, enough of the proud parent and next time it will be back to the grumpy old man!
She did it for the first time 3 years ago and came in the 60's somewhere, in around 30 mins. As this is a charity event, it's not really a race but you do get some hardcore female runners who finish in around 20 mins. Last year my daughter came 27th in 27 minutes.
I should explain that the reason she started doing it was as an incentive just after we started running, to continue training with an end goal every year. That first year (and subsequent years) she has fallen in love with the day, the charity and the course. The course, the last 2 years, has been through Waddesdon Estate, plenty of shade and a beautiful run, as I found out as we have run it a few times.
Unfortunately the course wasn't a available this year as the roads were in poor condition and they were repairing them, so she was entered in the Milton Keynes run, yesterday morning.
She seemed particularly nervous as we hadn't run too much last week, 3 days out of 7 but she seemed intent on pushing her boundaries. We got there and there are over 3,000 women standing in a field commemorating loved ones that have died, are fighting or have beaten cancer. It is a celebration, a rememberance and a steely determined effort not to bow down to something that they can change, something that only women can do. If this were a mens event, it would be competitive and not quite so supportive. Last year a couple of ladies pushed my daughter up a hill she was struggling with, in a mens race we would trample them underfoot, checking them off as one down, so many to go.
There was a poignant moment when they had a minute of silence and released 12 white doves. They wheeled above the crowd of silent, pink dressed women and disappeared into the grey, leaden sky. You really couldn't help but reflect on those that you know that have fought and others that have died of Cancer. You could't help but glance at the sea of faces, young and old, all with a tale to tell.
The 10k runners went off first so I led my daughter to the start line. She was pretty far back as it was jammed with women, all waiting to start.
The start went down a straight for maybe 100 yards, then turned a sharp left and I positioned myself round the bend. I intended to snap the first ladies round the bend and then take a longer exposure shot of the ladies running past, a moving wave of pink and in between that, cheer my daughter. The horn went and off they set. I waited expectantly for the first runner, she came round the bend and it was my daughter. With the determination that only a 12 year old can muster, she pushed her way to the front and took off from the start like a rocket. By the time she got to me, the rest of the field was a second or so behind. I was cheering and laughing, the proud parent. I thought she would finish at around the 26/27 minute mark. The course had a hill and some turns at the finish so it was impossible see the runners until they were nearly on you. First place went to a young woman in around 21-22 mins. Second place was maybe a minute after that and third place must have been 23-24 mins, I know this because my daughter came storming home in 4th at 24 mins and 21 seconds, a personal best for her.
I was and am so proud. I am now considering the men's charity runs as they have a "Run for Moore", the Bobby Moore Cancer Charity run. They have a 13 miler in Windsor Great Park so I am about to up my running miles before I enter. I was also very interested in parkrun.com, a series of free runs across the Country. There isn't one near me but I guess that's because people avoid this area, no-one comes here for fun but there is the option of starting one.
Anyway, enough of the proud parent and next time it will be back to the grumpy old man!
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